Seatbelts: All information and exceptions

Seatbelts are mandatory in Germany. However, there are exceptions where you can do without the seat belt. We have put together the necessary information on this topic for you.

Seatbelts: to whom it applies

Older semesters still know "topless" driving.

• The general seat belt requirement was introduced in Germany in 1976, but with moderate success: those who buckled up were considered to be more narrow-minded. In addition, there was great fear that in the event of an accident it would no longer be possible to free yourself from the car. After a fine for driving without a seat belt was finally introduced in 1984, drivers finally got used to buckling up.
• In principle, everyone who rides in a car or commercial vehicle has to buckle up. However, the driver is not responsible for the passenger: if the passenger is not buckled up, he also pays the fine - not the driver.
• Children must also be buckled up. The following applies here: up to the age of 12, they must sit in a child seat and also be buckled up if they are less than 150 cm. Incidentally, it does not matter whether the child seat is attached at the front or rear. If the child is taller than 150 cm, they do not need a child seat, but must be buckled up.
• Rumors are spreading among pregnant women that they are exempt from wearing seat belts. That is wrong. Pregnant women also have to buckle up. One exception: if a pregnant woman can provide a medical certificate that exempts her from wearing a seat belt for health reasons, she can do without the seat belt.

Seatbelts: no rule without exceptions

There are also situations where you don't have to be buckled up.

• You can take off your seat belt in parking lots or when reversing if you are walking at walking speed. However, this does not apply to a traffic jam on the motorway: if you are only moving forward at walking speed, you still need to wear your seat belt.
• In the case of so-called "door-to-door traffic", you are also exempt from the obligation to wear a seat belt. This affects, for example, mobile care services or parcel deliverers, i.e. everyone who has to get out after a few meters.
• There is also no belt requirement for journeys in regular buses, even if standing passengers are permitted.
• If you are traveling with a coach, you must generally be buckled up. For short periods, such as going to the toilet, the seatbelt requirement is lifted.

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